Census Dates

It is obviously important for researchers to know the exact date when the Census was taken when they are considering the ages recorded and the incidence of births, deaths or marriages immediately around the time of the Census.

The Census in Great Britain has since 1831 always been taken on a Sunday night, with respondents asked to record those individuals present in the house at midnight on a Sunday evening. This can sometimes lead to confusion because some authorities quote the Sunday as the day of the Census, and others quote the Monday.

The best notation to ensure there can be no doubt is to quote the two days between which the Census took place, the Sunday and the Monday. On this basis the dates of the Censuses from 1841 onwards are as follows:

1841

6^th/7^th June

1851

30^th/31^st March

1861

7^th/8^th April

1871

2^nd/3^rd April

1881

3^rd/4^th April

1891

5^th/6^th April

1901

31^st March/1^st April

1911

2^nd/3^rd April